Port Angeles Ridge students host first marketplace

Published 12:01 am Sunday, January 11, 2015

PORT ANGELES — Wearable posterboard Seattle Seahawks jerseys, original computer games, felted angels and mini-catapults were some of the products created by students in the first Ridge Program Marketplace.

Students from the first through sixth grades in Port Angeles School District’s Ridge Program for highly capable students, which is based at Roosevelt Elementary, initiated a “business community” experience, its first marketplace, in December.

“These kids went way beyond our expectations,” teacher Karen Doran said.

An economy was developed and value was given to Ridge Bucks, school officials said.

Ridge Bucks were earned through exceptional academic work, classroom jobs, reading classic books, tutoring fellow students and demonstrating responsibility for completing assignments.

Next, students made products, developed business plans and advertised and promoted their creation.

On the day of the Ridge Marketplace, Dec. 18, parents ran the bank and browsed the tables.

A few purchased items with Ridge Bucks earned from their children for any help given in constructing their products.

“The whole experience has been highly engaging and quite an accomplishment for my first- and second-graders,” teacher Lambert Grimes said.

Following the marketplace, students wrote an evaluation of their experiences to be used as the next event is organized for the spring.